Battlefields›Battle of Portland 840
Early Medieval

Battle of Portland 840

840
Dorset, England
Also known as: Danish fleet defeats Dorset at Portland 840 · Ealdorman Aethelhelm at Portland
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Dorset, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Wessex (Ealdorman Aethelhelm of Dorset)
Forces
Danish fleet force
VS
Victor
Danes
Forces
Dorset fyrd
Outcome
Ealdorman Aethelhelm killed; Dorset defeated; Danes raided freely
The Battle

History & Significance

In 840 Ealdorman Aethelhelm of Dorset fought a Danish fleet at Portland and was killed. This defeat near the site of the first recorded Viking visit to England in 789 showed how much had changed; what had begun as a curious encounter with three ships had grown into regular military engagements with large fleets capable of destroying English ealdormen.

Casualties & Losses

Ealdorman Aethelhelm killed

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Battle of Portland 840

Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery (P3 Verne), 275m south-west of Fancy's Farm
Scheduled monument · ~0.8 miles
RAF Portland, site of Rotor early warning radar station
Scheduled monument · ~1 miles
The Verne Citadel
Scheduled monument · ~1 miles
Rufus Castle
Scheduled monument · ~1.2 miles
East Weare rifle range
Scheduled monument · ~1.3 miles
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